Why Don't People Buy Diesel Cars Despite Cheaper Diesel Fuel?
1 Answers
Diesel cars are unpopular mainly due to three reasons: questionable diesel fuel quality, inconvenience in refueling, and severe resonance with high noise levels. Here are the relevant details:1. Inferior Diesel Quality Compared to Gasoline: The advantages of diesel engines are not fully utilized in private vehicles due to their high combustion efficiency. This efficiency is primarily due to diesel's higher calorific value, releasing about 30% more energy than gasoline when burning the same mass. However, diesel has a lower ignition point, viscosity, and combustion speed compared to gasoline, making it unsuitable for ignition via spark plugs and requiring compressed air to reach auto-ignition temperature. China's roads are generally flat with good conditions and smooth traffic, even slopes are minimal and short. Thus, diesel engines' benefits, such as high torque at low RPMs, are not fully utilized, making them more suitable for special or complex conditions like uphill climbs, muddy roads, or heavy loads. This explains why heavy-duty vehicles often use diesel, while private diesel cars are relatively rare.2. High Noise Levels of Diesel Engines: Some inaccurately claim diesel cars are dirty. What drivers find unbearable is the noise. Diesel cars resonate more than gasoline cars, a fact any diesel car driver can attest to. The noise is noticeably louder during acceleration and even at idle, due to diesel engines' ignition method. The high compression ratio leads to greater gas pressure. A significant portion of the noise comes from the continuous explosion of diesel in the cylinders or the engine's operational vibrations.3. Refueling and Winter Use Difficulties: Refueling diesel cars is challenging. Past fuel shortages made diesel scarce, but even now, winter diesel quality is questionable. Maintenance and repairs for diesel cars, while not excessively expensive, are generally costlier than for gasoline cars. Despite the practicality of diesel SUVs, fuel quality concerns deter many potential buyers.
